Putin's vanishing act: Sochi residence demolished amid fears
The main building of Vladimir Putin's residence, Bocharov Ruchey in Sochi, has been completely demolished, reports Proekt. The dictator has reportedly also stopped flying to his beloved city. After drone attacks, he feared for his life, said one person interviewed.
According to Proekt, an investigative service run by independent journalists, President Vladimir Putin has not visited Sochi for seven months, even though he used to spend considerable time there.
Putin fears for his life
Why? One of the interviewees mentioned to journalists that the dictator "began to fear for his life after drone attacks on targets in the city."
In 2024, Putin did not even fly to Sochi for the May birthday of Alina Kabaeva, a Russian gymnast and Putin's alleged lover—an event he had regularly attended since 2012.
Journalists also obtained satellite images of Putin's residence. An analysis revealed that the main building of Bocharov Ruchey was demolished.
The dismantling of the facility began in February and was finished in March. "Currently, there is a pit on the premises of the residence around which construction equipment is operating. No reason for the building's demolition has been provided," the report stated.
The complex also includes the Bocharov Ruchey-2 building, located on the outskirts of the property. It houses facilities like a press centre and a conference room. The last time Putin hosted guests in the Bocharov Ruchey-2 complex was in March 2024, when he met with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi.
Fire at Putin's residence
In May 2024, a fire completely destroyed one of the buildings at Putin's residence in the village of Onguday in the Altai Republic. In 2013, Putin hosted Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi here. The cause of the fire remains unexplained.
Proekt is an independent Russian media outlet specializing in investigative journalism. Since 2019, after publications about the Wagner Group, Russian authorities have closely monitored its journalists. Their reports have often been cited by "The New York Times".
